Esther Chiang is our visionary Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. With previous stints as an electrical engineer at Qualcomm and over 15 years as a private funds formation lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Hastings, Esther bridges her wealth of engineering knowledge and legal expertise to SmartEsq. She holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a JD from New York University Law School. Esther's journey into entrepreneurship began with a simple idea to automate her workflow while practicing as an attorney. Outside of work, Esther enjoys spending time with her family at their home in Upstate New York, and taking her dog, Dusty, on long walks.

As the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Kristen brings her expertise and passion in AI, cybersecurity, and data privacy to SmartEsq. With over twenty years working at startups and technology companies, Kristen leads the development of SmartEsq's technology solutions, ensuring they are robust, secure, and user-friendly. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Math and Computer Science and a master’s degree in Technology Management, both from Columbia University. Outside of work, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family, retro video games, swimming, and writing.

Katherine Loanzon is our COO and the key member who ensures the team is following through with their “To Do Lists”. With a background as an attorney and legal recruiter advising startups and small businesses, Katherine combines her expertise in both business and law to drive the day-to-day operations at SmartEsq. She graduated from New York University with a BA in Romance Languages and a JD from CUNY School of Law. Outside of work, Katherine sits on the Board of Directors of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, where she is passionate about mentoring and advocating for the professional advancement of AAPI attorneys.

Paul Patrow is our Chief Legal Officer who ensures SmartEsq fulfills its legal and compliance responsibilities. WIth over twenty years of experience navigating the complex legal tax landscape as a private fund formation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Hastings, Paul brings his expertise to all legal aspects of SmartEsq, from regulatory compliance to contract negotiations. He received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School. Outside of work, Paul enjoys powerlifting, taking long drives in his truck, and spending time at his cabin in the woods of Wisconsin.

Mara Arikian Reilly is a founding board member of SmartEsq and a Principal at Apollo Global Management, where she leads Credit Analysis and Deal Management for the firm’s High Grade Capital Solutions portfolio. She brings over two decades of experience in global credit markets, with prior leadership roles at Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. Mara was seconded to a global investment strategy Think Tank in Frankfurt, where she developed cross-border financing models to mobilize institutional capital. She is Private Equity Chief Financial Officer Certified, earned her BA magna cum laude from New York University, and holds executive credentials from Harvard Business School. Outside of work, she is passionate about mentoring and can often be found hiking or on the beach with her dog.

Laurin Blumenthal Kleinman is a member of SmartEsq’s Legal Advisory Board, where she brings four decades of expertise from Sidley Austin’s Investment Funds Global Practice Group as the practice group head advising domestic and international managers across a variety of investment vehicles, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and mutual funds. A dedicated advocate for diversity, Laurie is the former firmwide co-chair of SidleyWomen, the firm’s award-winning initiative to advance women and minorities in the legal profession. In addition to joining SmartEsq as a Legal Advisory Board Member, Laurie serves on the Vanderbilt University Law School Board of Advisors, the Board of Trustees of the Adaptive Sports Foundation, and the American Arbitration Association Roster of Arbitrators, exemplifying her commitment to excellence, mentorship, and community engagement.

John Rayis is a member of SmartEsq’s Legal Advisory Board, where he brings over 25 years of experience as a distinguished tax partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP specializing in corporate and partnership tax law, with a focus on REITs and private equity funds. Renowned for his expertise, Mr. Rayis has been consistently recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers USA as a leading REIT tax lawyer. In addition to joining SmartEsq as a Legal Advisory Board Member, John also serves as Senior Strategic Advisor at Lockton’s Tax and Transaction Liability group, where he advises clients on tax and transaction-related insurance solutions. Mr. Rayis also contributes his time as a Director of Apartment Income REIT Corp., Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, and Trustee of The University of Chicago Medical Center, exemplifying his dedication to excellence and leadership across industries.

Valerie Chan is SmartEsq’s Public Relations Advisor. Valierie is Founder of Plat4orm PR, a full-service strategic communications agency specializing in the legal, security, telecom and financial-technology sectors. As a seasoned business leader and technology communications expert known for her storytelling abilities in the legal and mainstream technology industries, Valerie helps drive SmartEsq’s marketing and media campaigns. She is a NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Teaching Fellow and a speaker at conferences and events like TEDxFarmingdale, the Oxford Talk, PRSA ICON, and LexLab (Hastings Law School). She holds a JD from Seattle University and a BA from the University of Puget Sound. In her personal endeavors, Valerie showcases her talent as a concert-level violist.